Giants 21, Saints 13: Second-half open thread

The New York Giants hold a 21-13 lead over the New Orleans Saints at halftime of Sunday's game. Oh, but it could be so much more.

The Giants have started five drives on their own 45-yard line or better, four of those in Saints' territory, and scored just 10 points on those drives.

Still, with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins having won earlier, they need a win to stay in first place in the NFC East. Right now they are in position to get one.

The game started poorly for the Giants' offense. A 58-yard kickoff return by David Wilson, giving the Giants the ball at the New Orleans' 45, was wasted by a three-and-out.

After a New Orleans' turnover, a fumble by Marques Colston that was recovered by Antrel Rolle -- again at the 45 -- Eli Manning threw a third-down interception that Elbert Mack returned 73 yards for a score. Manning's pass was intended for Jerrel Jernigan, who appeared to slip on the play.

Wilson then returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 7-7.

Linval Joseph then recovered a fumble after a reception by New Orleans fullback Jed Collins to once again set the Giants up in Saints' territory. The recovery put the ball at the New Orleans' 35-yard line. Four plays later Manning hit Martellus Bennett for a 6-yard touchdown, giving the Giants a 14-7 lead with 4:19 remaining in the opening quarter.

The first quarter ended with the Giants leading, 14-7.

The Saints drove 81 yards in 14 plays for a 32-yard field goal by Garrett Hartley to cut the lead to 14-10 with 9:46 left in the half. New Orleans held the ball for 5:44.

Wilson, having a great day returning kickoffs, returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the New Orleans' 46. Lawrence Tynes missed a 36-yard field goal attempt wide left after the Giants' drive stalled at the 19-yard line.

Following Tynes' miss the Saints drove 67 yards in eight plays. Hartley hit a 25-yard field goal to make the score 14-13 with 1:57 left in the half.

The Giants then drove 69 yards in nine plays with Manning hitting Domenik Hixon for a 5-yard touchdown on a fade route with 20 seconds left in the half, giving the Giants a 21-13 lead. The Giants overcame a pair of penalties on the drive, an offsetting pass interference penalty that negated a catch by Hakeem Nicks, and a holding penalty on Ahmad Bradshaw.

Use this as your second-half open thread.

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